If you are suffering with lower back pain, you’re not alone. Lower back pain affects approximately 25% of Australians according to a 2011 study published in Australian Prescriber, and lifetime prevalence rates for lower back pain has been estimated at between 70 and 90%.
Lower back pain doesn’t only impact the affected individual; it also has a detrimental impact on society. In Australia, lower back pain is the third leading cause of disability.
According to a 2012 survey by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, four out of five people with back pain reported some degree of activity limitation, such as difficulty with mobility, communication and/or self-care. The costs associated with lower back pain are astonishing – estimates reveal that the direct cost of treating lower back pain in Australia equates to approximately $1 billion; with an additional $8 billion in indirect costs.
The good news is that most cases of lower back pain will resolve over time. However, if you suffer from lower back trouble, you’re likely looking for pain relief in the interim.
Evidence published in a 2016 systematic review of the literature in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, found that chiropractors are well suited to diagnose, treat, manage and co-manage patients suffering with low back pain disorders. In fact, recent clinical practice guidelines published by the America Academy of Family Physicians recommends that non-pharmacological treatment, including spinal manipulation, massage, acupuncture or superficial heat should be used initially for most patients with acute or sub-acute low back pain.
If you’ve been suffering with lower back pain, make an appointment with a chiropractor to discuss options for help with minimising your pain and improving function.
